Thornton Heath man to become ‘king’ of African land

Meghan Markle, was described as “the biggest hypocrite there is” for “prostituting her fame on social media.

Others referred to her “exotic” DNA.

But the thought of becoming the second black royal in British history has not deterred barrister Dwain Coward, a lawyer from Thornton Heath, who hopes to become king of a land between Egypt and Sudan, known as Bir Tawil.

It is a piece of arid desert about 60 miles long and 30 miles wide – the only unclaimed habitable territory in the world.

“It will be a bog-standard hereditary monarchy,” said the 41-year-old. “I have a male heir and a female second-in-line.

“I don’t want to just sit on the throne and look down on people. This is much more important than that. If the state can be recognised, it can attract funding to tackle the refugee crises and starvation there.”

The name might sound like Sri Lankan booze, but the University of Greenwich graduate will dub himself “King Dwain I Lord Of Bir Tawil” if his royalty bid is successful.

When Rastafarian prophet Marcus Garvey prophesied a king would arise to lead black people back to the promised land of Africa, he might not quite have had this in mind.

Diplomatic correspondence from Dwain’s planned kingdom is headed: “The Great Office of the King of Bir Tawil Dwain I – with the slightly less salubrious address of The Interchange, 81-85 Station Road, Croydon, CR0 2RD.

He will be crowned at 11.30am on Saturday, at the plush surroundings of a church hall – 80 Parchmore Road, Thornton Heath. Crowds are not expected to line the streets.

“Over 300 years ago Africans were taken from Africa and deployed as slaves throughout the Caribbean,” his announcement states. “A number migrated to the UK. The coronation will be a moment of global empowerment to the black diaspora.

“In the United Kingdom in particular, black youths have become disillusioned and lost. They are sorely in need of positive examples of how a black person can achieve great heights.

“The Sovereign State of Bir Tawil shall serve as a safe haven for people of all races and creeds, in complete tolerance of all racial origins and a demonstration to the world that even in the darkest of times, all things remain possible to those who believe.”

Dwain came to claim the throne after a random dream in 2016, followed by some online research.

Two previous attempts to claim the kingdom failed: A Russian DJ and then an American farmer from Virginia both planted their flags in the territory – the latter after his daughter asked “Will I ever be a real princess, daddy?”

But lawyer Dwain said: “Nobody has succeeded in establishing the criteria for a new state under international law.”

Any successful claimant must create a constitution with a system of government; diplomatic relations and a permanent population.

Dwain has been bounced into swift action by a bid from a well-organised Lebanese group, the “Kingdom of the Yellow Mountain”, launched on September 5. They met most of the criteria, including having a prime minister. But they forgot to name a king or write a constitution – schoolboy error.

King-elect Dwain said: “Constitutional law is quite strict. If you say you are a state, then effectively you are – but no one will recognise you. That is crucial.

“After the ceremony, I will apply for membership of the United Nations and do everything I can to assist refugees from Sudan and anyone in need in the area.”

Dwain’s knowledge of his ancestry only goes back to a great-grandfather who worked on the Panama Canal. “I don’t hold out much hope of going back further,” he said.

“But it will be nice to show my children that empires have been founded if you do not conform to stereotype and have big dreams. Reach for the impossible.”

Dwain’s only previous bid for high office was standing for election to Croydon council in 2014. He came 12th with 171 votes, behind winners Labour  – but beat both Liberal Democrat candidates. “I didn’t do so well at local level so I am stepping up to international level,” he said.

He hasn’t visited his prospective kingdom, yet – or even Africa. It’s a four-hour flight to Cairo, if he can get one – but then 1,000 miles of the Sahara desert to cross, somehow. Maybe Meghan could fund a camel?

Pictured: ‘King’ Dwain